Daniel Cormier reveals Khamzat Chimaev put a ‘bounty on himself’ ahead of UFC Title defense vs Sean Strickland, compares it with NFL “Bountygate” scandal

UFC middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev is reportedly taking his next fight camp extremely seriously as he prepares for his first title defense against Sean Strickland. According to former two-division champion and analyst Daniel Cormier, Chimaev has gone to an unusual extent to push himself during training. Cormier recently shared that the champion is encouraging his sparring partners to attack him aggressively by offering them money if they manage to submit him during practice sessions.

The claim has quickly sparked conversation across the MMA world. Chimaev is already known for his relentless work ethic. He is also known for his aggressive fighting style inside the Octagon. But reports from his current camp suggest that he has raised the intensity even further ahead of his clash with Strickland. The bout has already attracted attention due to past sparring stories between the two fighters, with both men claiming they had the upper hand when they trained together years ago.

Daniel Cormier shares unusual training story from Khamzat Chimaev’s camp

Daniel Cormier recently spoke about Khamzat Chimaev’s preparation on his YouTube channel. The former champion said he had heard from people connected to the gym that the middleweight titleholder is pushing elite training partners harder than ever before.

Cormier explained that stories coming out of the camp suggest Chimaev has been dominating high-level fighters in practice sessions. According to him, the champion wants his sparring partners to attack him with full effort rather than holding back. To motivate them, Chimaev is reportedly offering cash rewards if someone manages to submit him during training.

Cormier compared the situation jokingly to the “Bountygate” scandal in the NFL, but said this situation is very different because Chimaev has essentially placed the challenge on himself. The idea, according to Cormier, is to create an environment where everyone in the gym pushes him to the limit.

The conversation also brought back the long-running debate about Chimaev’s past sparring sessions with Strickland. Both fighters have given very different versions of what happened when they trained together earlier in their careers.

Cormier admitted that it is difficult to know which story is accurate. He said that when two fighters describe the same training session in completely opposite ways, someone must be exaggerating. Since several people were present during those sessions, the real story is likely known inside the gym.

However, Cormier also said that from his personal experience with Chimaev, quitting or giving up during training does not match the fighter’s personality. He believes the champion is someone who constantly pushes forward and refuses to back down.





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